Early human ancestors etched complex images onto stone tablets by firelight 15,000 years ago , a new study led by researchers at the University of York and published in the journal PloS One has revealed. 50 stones unearthed in France and found patterns of heat damage, suggesting they were carved near the flickering light of a campfire.
Carving by firelight
According to experts, the engraved stones were likely crafted with stone tools by the Magdalenian people , an early hunter-gatherer culture dating to between 23,000 and 14,000 years ago.
Based on the complex nature of the drawings and signs of discoloration caused by high temperatures, the researchers suggest they may have been intentionally placed next to hot flames, possibly to produce some kind of animated effect.
Once the team determined that the engraved stones were exposed to fire, they replicated the stones and used 3D models and virtual reality software to mimic what our prehistoric ancestors would have seen as they gazed at the stones under firelight.
“It was previously assumed that the visible heat damage to some platelets had probably been caused by accident, but experiments with replica stones showed that the damage was more consistent with them being purposely placed near a fire,” he says. lead author Andy Needham of the University of York.
The interplay between the engraved stone and the light from the fire can make the engraved forms appear dynamic and alive, suggesting that it was crucial to their use.
“Currently, we might think that art is created on a blank canvas in daylight or with a fixed light source; but now we know that 15,000 years ago our ancestors created art around a fire at night, with flickering shapes and shadows ,” say the authors.
Working in these conditions would have had a dramatic effect on the way prehistoric humans experienced making art. It could have activated an evolutionary ability designed to protect us from predators called ‘pareidolia’ , where perception imposes a meaningful interpretation such as an animal’s shape, face or pattern where there really isn’t one.
Illuminated by the flickering glow of a campfire, the features of the stone surfaces were blurred, emphasizing their natural lines and artistic scratches in ways that made the image appear less static.
Fire, always vital for humans
Most of the plaques are engraved with images of bison, mountain goats, horses, and deer. A few have birds, parallel lines, or indeterminate subjects. And, many times, the lines are adapted to follow the natural features of the rock. The largest have faces about the size of an A4 sheet of paper, but 3 centimeters thick. Most are less than half that size.
“Our findings strengthen the theory that the warm glow of the fire would have made it the center of the community for social gatherings, storytelling and art making. At a time when a great deal of time and effort would have been spent finding food , water and shelter, it’s fascinating to think that people still found the time and ability to create art. It shows how these activities have been part of what makes us human for thousands of years and demonstrates the cognitive complexity of prehistoric people,” explains Izzy Wisher, co-author of the work.
The fact that this discovery evidences the artistic character of these stones and their creators, does not mean that this was the only purpose of their placement near a bonfire. The limestone could also have served the function by effectively radiating heat through the site and storing it once the fire had died down, which the authors say would have been crucial during a time of intense cold.
Referencia: Andy Needham et al. Art by firelight? Using experimental and digital techniques to explore Magdalenian engraved plaquette use at Montastruc (France). Plos ONE.
